Shenandoah

Serving as a cinematographer for Shenandoah was an unforgettable experience that combined my love of storytelling, nature, and technical filmmaking. Over the course of more than three years, I spent extensive time in Shenandoah National Park’s backcountry capturing hundreds of hours of footage that revealed the depth and diversity of this landscape. Mostly using a Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro 4.6K camera, I filmed everything from white-tailed deer taking their first steps to black bears scaling forty-foot trees, as well as sweeping mountain vistas and cultural sites that connect the park’s natural and human histories. Working alongside Orange Frame Productions, who directed and produced the film, the team dove into mountain caves to document the American eel’s journey, climbed cliffs to follow peregrine falcons, and captured intimate glimpses of the endangered Shenandoah salamander.

The film now plays daily at Shenandoah National Park’s visitor center, reaching more than a million visitors each year. A one-hour PBS version is currently in production, expanding the story’s reach and continuing to inspire audiences to see themselves as part of the living world of the Blue Ridge Mountains.